Dear readers, listeners, admirers, and stumblers, and especially those of you who have been checking in every week since my last post only to be disappointed again and again to see not but the same stagnant, rotting remains of my most recent blog entry which was left there many, many weeks ago. For you I write once more. So hereforth the content begins:
Current Goings On:
Tenseless Sensations (my ever eclectic two-hour weekly radio extravaganza) has returned and airs live every Wednesday from 4 to 6 pm, followed by our favorite new DJ extraordinaire, George, with Music By a Band from 6 to 8 pm.
Also currently involved in attempts to save the world from self destruction by alerting citizens of our fine (and getting finer by the second) city by revitalizing the catalog of Public Service Announcements to be broadcast from the Master Control Room every hour of every day.
Currently in the works is an expository of local DIY records labels and their role in the modern music world, to be found here, eventually.
Local Bands to Watch:
I'd Like to remind you all of Ghost Light, West Philly's/my favorite emotional indie quartet,
and OhBree, industrial-pop (or so) making you laugh and cry all at once. In addition to fuzz-punk superheroes Mumblr, whose past two singles are simply incredible, and can be heard on the Self-Help Records Compilation (by Travis Arterburn of Ted Nguyent) and their own bandcamp, respectively.
Perhaps that might not have been relatively as brief as I had intended, but for old time's sake, I hope you enjoy the words and tune in to the audial complement on WKDU this Wednesday at 4 on 91.7 FM.
Adieu for now,
_nick
Monday, August 12, 2013
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Local Hour Begins Tomorrow
Well hello there folks,
It's been a while since I've last graced my keyboard with the fingerstrokes of blog-intended creations. Springtime has begun, and with it begins a new transformation in the evolution of radio, at least for one hour per week on one station in Philadelphia.
I will be concentrating all my efforts henceforth on the dissemination of local music. That means bands you've seen more than heard, or met more than seen. As you surely understand, local music is nothing but the inception of music soon heard far and wide. The difference here is that we're catching it early, watching it in it's early stages, noting it's growth and development until the point of mass listenership.
But maybe that won't happen at all, and it'll just be between you and me. That's ok too, maybe even better.
Anywhichway, I urge you to spend some valuable sunlit moments to gauge the decibel power of my radio show, the Local Hour, beginning tomorrow at 5pm, as always, on WKDU, 91.7 Fm or www.wkdu.org.
If you want to play more than a passive role, you may also submit music for me to play at my discretion to tenselesssensations@gmail.com.
Thanks, and keep it real.
_nick
It's been a while since I've last graced my keyboard with the fingerstrokes of blog-intended creations. Springtime has begun, and with it begins a new transformation in the evolution of radio, at least for one hour per week on one station in Philadelphia.
I will be concentrating all my efforts henceforth on the dissemination of local music. That means bands you've seen more than heard, or met more than seen. As you surely understand, local music is nothing but the inception of music soon heard far and wide. The difference here is that we're catching it early, watching it in it's early stages, noting it's growth and development until the point of mass listenership.
But maybe that won't happen at all, and it'll just be between you and me. That's ok too, maybe even better.
Anywhichway, I urge you to spend some valuable sunlit moments to gauge the decibel power of my radio show, the Local Hour, beginning tomorrow at 5pm, as always, on WKDU, 91.7 Fm or www.wkdu.org.
If you want to play more than a passive role, you may also submit music for me to play at my discretion to tenselesssensations@gmail.com.
Thanks, and keep it real.
_nick
Monday, March 11, 2013
Week IX & X
So, it has occurred to me that instead of repeatedly making excuses as to the postponement of the weekly blog entries and consequent two-week compilation, I should rather call it a bi-weekly blog.
And thus begins the tonight's entry...
The playlist for last week's show (3/4/2013) can be found here.
The playlist for tonight's show (3/11/2013) can be found here.
I want to bring to your attention an exhibit currently on display at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. To be found there is a collection of "ancient" instruments and musical compositions from the collection of noted philanthropist and musician, Edwin A. Fleisher. More information can be found here, or by simply visiting the library yourself.
One notable track from tonight's broadcast is composer Villem Kapp's Symphony No. 2, performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Jeeme Järvi. Both Kapp (Born 1913) and Järvi (Born 1937) are of Estonian nationality. I mention this point because, while searching for information on Kapp, I discovered that the literal translation to his name is as follows: Enthusiast Closet. While this may simply be a comical error in the page translation by Google, I must say that a small compartment made for the purpose of containing excited people, assumably so over a similar interest, may just be a coincidental euphemism for a music venue, specifically those located in a small room such as a basement. If I completely lost you with that seemingly incoherent series of words, I urge you not to feel disheartened, for I did know know where I was going with that and I'm not quite sure I the destination reached was logical or far from that which it should have been, creating a rift in the space-time continuum in the universe of weblogs.
On a more serious note, I would like to point out to you, my reader, an article I have written in response to a certain establishment being included in Drexel's upcoming chestnut square shopping center.
Their newest album can be streamed in full below or on bandcamp.
Leave any comments below, or tweet me your reactions, comments, questions, send me music at tenselesssensations@gmail.com, and don't forget to tune in next Monday at 8pm for the final installment of the classical edition of Tenseless Sensations. The spring shall bring new adventures for us all.
Peace,
_nick
And thus begins the tonight's entry...
The playlist for last week's show (3/4/2013) can be found here.
The playlist for tonight's show (3/11/2013) can be found here.
I want to bring to your attention an exhibit currently on display at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. To be found there is a collection of "ancient" instruments and musical compositions from the collection of noted philanthropist and musician, Edwin A. Fleisher. More information can be found here, or by simply visiting the library yourself.
One notable track from tonight's broadcast is composer Villem Kapp's Symphony No. 2, performed by the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by Jeeme Järvi. Both Kapp (Born 1913) and Järvi (Born 1937) are of Estonian nationality. I mention this point because, while searching for information on Kapp, I discovered that the literal translation to his name is as follows: Enthusiast Closet. While this may simply be a comical error in the page translation by Google, I must say that a small compartment made for the purpose of containing excited people, assumably so over a similar interest, may just be a coincidental euphemism for a music venue, specifically those located in a small room such as a basement. If I completely lost you with that seemingly incoherent series of words, I urge you not to feel disheartened, for I did know know where I was going with that and I'm not quite sure I the destination reached was logical or far from that which it should have been, creating a rift in the space-time continuum in the universe of weblogs.
On a more serious note, I would like to point out to you, my reader, an article I have written in response to a certain establishment being included in Drexel's upcoming chestnut square shopping center.
______*****_______
And for the moment we've all been waiting for!
...
This week's featured local artist is Cheers Elephant. Perhaps better know than bands I have highlighted in the past, Cheers Elephant play an upbeat mix of indie-rock & psych-pop, and have released two full length albums. They are currently touring the US, but keep an eye out for them when the come back to Philly, for their live performances burst with an energy that cannot be reproduced in a recording. Most notably, drummer Robert Kingly brings a refreshing excitement to the groups shows with his captivatingly energetic method of drumming.
Leave any comments below, or tweet me your reactions, comments, questions, send me music at tenselesssensations@gmail.com, and don't forget to tune in next Monday at 8pm for the final installment of the classical edition of Tenseless Sensations. The spring shall bring new adventures for us all.
Peace,
_nick
Monday, February 25, 2013
Week VIII
All right, you got me. This week I have no excuse. I have neglected to write a blog post for week 7, but that only means this one will have double the content, and double the FUN.
I hope you're all recovering from watching the Oscars last night, apparently the most important thing going on in the country at the time. For my part, I was happily listening to Caution by Hot Water Music in its entirety while doing French homework.
But now, let's get down to the brass tacks. Starting with lists:
The playlist for last Monday's broadcast can be found here.
The playlist for this evening's broadcast can be found here.
AND as an added bonus, here's the playlist for the presidents day special I did last Monday morning, featuring some additional tunes by DJ Chris B of Rhythm Method, on Wednesdays from 8 to 10pm on WKDU.
Some notable pieces from the past two shows include
1.The Yellow River Piano Concerto performed by the China Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring prominent Chinese pianist Lang Lang. This piece reminded me of certain video game soundtracks which I grew up with, quite possible one of the main factors contributing to my current passion for music.
2. Circus Maximus by contemporary American composer John Corigliano, whose motivation somewhat touches on the aversion I feel to popular forms of media and specifically the television.
3. Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" narrated by Benjamin de Loache, along with a composition by Acrady Dubensky performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. If you ever have the chance, I'd highly recommend visiting Poe's former residence on 7th and Spring Garden streets (just near the Electric Factory).
4. Verano Porteno by Astor Piazzola. Piazzola, one of the foremost Argentinian Tango composers, has a very tenuous connection with the city of Philadelphia (as far as I know) in that one of his compositions, Suite Punta del Este, was the inspiration for the theme to the film, Twelve Monkeys, which is based in this city.
And there are many notable local artists I want to present to you, and I had a hard time deciding on one to be this week's featured local artist, but, after careful deliberation, I have chosen: The Districts.
The Districts are a garage/rock and roll band whose energy when performing makes there music near impossible to react to, whether physically or emotionally. Perhaps the most notable feature of the band are the vocals, whose delivery is made with utmost passion and precision by frontman Rob Grote.
So, if that's all you have to hear me say, that'll be all I have to say.
Bye for now.
Cheers!
_nick
I hope you're all recovering from watching the Oscars last night, apparently the most important thing going on in the country at the time. For my part, I was happily listening to Caution by Hot Water Music in its entirety while doing French homework.
But now, let's get down to the brass tacks. Starting with lists:
The playlist for last Monday's broadcast can be found here.
The playlist for this evening's broadcast can be found here.
AND as an added bonus, here's the playlist for the presidents day special I did last Monday morning, featuring some additional tunes by DJ Chris B of Rhythm Method, on Wednesdays from 8 to 10pm on WKDU.
Some notable pieces from the past two shows include
1.The Yellow River Piano Concerto performed by the China Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring prominent Chinese pianist Lang Lang. This piece reminded me of certain video game soundtracks which I grew up with, quite possible one of the main factors contributing to my current passion for music.
2. Circus Maximus by contemporary American composer John Corigliano, whose motivation somewhat touches on the aversion I feel to popular forms of media and specifically the television.
3. Edgar Allen Poe's "The Raven" narrated by Benjamin de Loache, along with a composition by Acrady Dubensky performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra conducted by Leopold Stokowski. If you ever have the chance, I'd highly recommend visiting Poe's former residence on 7th and Spring Garden streets (just near the Electric Factory).
4. Verano Porteno by Astor Piazzola. Piazzola, one of the foremost Argentinian Tango composers, has a very tenuous connection with the city of Philadelphia (as far as I know) in that one of his compositions, Suite Punta del Este, was the inspiration for the theme to the film, Twelve Monkeys, which is based in this city.
And there are many notable local artists I want to present to you, and I had a hard time deciding on one to be this week's featured local artist, but, after careful deliberation, I have chosen: The Districts.
The Districts are a garage/rock and roll band whose energy when performing makes there music near impossible to react to, whether physically or emotionally. Perhaps the most notable feature of the band are the vocals, whose delivery is made with utmost passion and precision by frontman Rob Grote.
So, if that's all you have to hear me say, that'll be all I have to say.
Bye for now.
Cheers!
_nick
Monday, February 11, 2013
Week VI
So you may be wondering, why have I neglected the V, week five (5)? You see, I am following the academic term week numberings here at Drexel University, and due to the fact that last week's radio show was forgone, I skipped to Week 6, VI.
I hope you're still enjoying the classical sonorites being conveyed to you each Monday night from 8 pm (with the exception of last week) to 10 pm, from the transmitter at the top of Van Rensselaer Hall to your antennae and into and out of your speakers wherever you may be listening, in Philadelphia or beyond.
This week's playlist can be found here.
Standout tracks include Rossini's Guillaume Tell: Overture, performed by Lamberto Gardelli and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which I'm quite sure has been featured in cartoons I have watched as a child (A bullfight comes to mind). If you know which particular ones, please notify me via comment or email at tenselesssensations@gmail.com.
And, finally, *drumrollllllllll* the local artist of the week: Trophy Wife. They recently played a benefit for the charitable organization Decarcerate PA (which aims to decrease funding on prisons and focus more on education). I'll not delve into the politics of it, but Trophy Wife is a band made up of two young women who play loud, aggressive punk rock. Their live shows are purely entertaining, featuring the aforementioned hard rock juxtaposed with entertaining banter between songs. Check out their bandcamp below.
Also of note is a one man band called Gull, also out of Philadelphia. He plays the guitar and drums at once, look him up and go see him to be amazed and incredified, I command you.
Thanks for reading, and as usual, I'll catch you all Monday at 8. Alsodon'tforgettofollowmeontwitter.
Peace,
_nick
I hope you're still enjoying the classical sonorites being conveyed to you each Monday night from 8 pm (with the exception of last week) to 10 pm, from the transmitter at the top of Van Rensselaer Hall to your antennae and into and out of your speakers wherever you may be listening, in Philadelphia or beyond.
This week's playlist can be found here.
Standout tracks include Rossini's Guillaume Tell: Overture, performed by Lamberto Gardelli and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which I'm quite sure has been featured in cartoons I have watched as a child (A bullfight comes to mind). If you know which particular ones, please notify me via comment or email at tenselesssensations@gmail.com.
And, finally, *drumrollllllllll* the local artist of the week: Trophy Wife. They recently played a benefit for the charitable organization Decarcerate PA (which aims to decrease funding on prisons and focus more on education). I'll not delve into the politics of it, but Trophy Wife is a band made up of two young women who play loud, aggressive punk rock. Their live shows are purely entertaining, featuring the aforementioned hard rock juxtaposed with entertaining banter between songs. Check out their bandcamp below.
Also of note is a one man band called Gull, also out of Philadelphia. He plays the guitar and drums at once, look him up and go see him to be amazed and incredified, I command you.
Thanks for reading, and as usual, I'll catch you all Monday at 8. Alsodon'tforgettofollowmeontwitter.
Peace,
_nick
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Week III & Week IV
Greetings,
It is 11 pm on January 29th, 2013. I am setting down the facts of my past accomplishments here to be visited and revisited among the interminable procession of facts and data constantly uploaded, upgraded, rated, traded, and created on, into, and within this set of circuits we call the internet.
The playlist for last week's show (1/21) can be found here
The playlist for last night's show (1/28) can be found here.
One notable piece from last night is Dance of The Sugar-Plum Fairy, from the Nutcracker, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. You may recognize it from it prominence in various pop-culture media.
The featured local artist for this week is OhBree. Their first album full-length, We Miss You Edward, Come Home, was released late last year. Listen to it below, or on bandcamp.
There's your short and sweet or maybe savory blog post for the week. Stay updated.
Good night for now,
Nick
It is 11 pm on January 29th, 2013. I am setting down the facts of my past accomplishments here to be visited and revisited among the interminable procession of facts and data constantly uploaded, upgraded, rated, traded, and created on, into, and within this set of circuits we call the internet.
The playlist for last week's show (1/21) can be found here
The playlist for last night's show (1/28) can be found here.
One notable piece from last night is Dance of The Sugar-Plum Fairy, from the Nutcracker, composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. You may recognize it from it prominence in various pop-culture media.
The featured local artist for this week is OhBree. Their first album full-length, We Miss You Edward, Come Home, was released late last year. Listen to it below, or on bandcamp.
There's your short and sweet or maybe savory blog post for the week. Stay updated.
Good night for now,
Nick
Friday, January 18, 2013
Chapter 4: Week II
Hey folks, welcome back to the blog. I am striving to bring you a new entry each week this Winter and so far I've been keeping at it, despite this one being one day later than last week's. If this trend continues, by Sunday of week ten the 9th blog post will be published and the final one will happen two Mondays later.
But, eschewing the frivolity of speculation, let's get to the more important matters at hand-----------
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Standout tracks include John Cage's Third Construction, performed by the Continuum Percussion Quartet, and part 2 of 4 of Bolero! conducted by Andre Kostelanetz and performed by the Robin Hood Dell Orchestra of Philadelphia. On the latter piece you may have recognized some parts of the composition, which could be explained by their appearance in certain Bugs Bunny cartoons (If you know which ones, don't hesitate to tell me. I would love to know!)
On a different note, I want to let you all know of a Philly band called Ghost Light. The band recently performed live at WKDU and features some great emotional songwriting and instrumentation that will surely resonate within the caverns of your skull for days if not weeks. Listen below and if you like it vote for them for Deli Magazine's year end poll for emerging artists: http://philadelphia.thedelimagazine.com/snacks.
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